In 1954, A Japanese haiku launched a franchise about a radioactive monster that destroys Toyko. In 1998, director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin failed miserably with their version with miscasts, dreadful special effects and glacier pacing. Godzilla 2014, I’m here to say knows how to set it up and bring the campy fun by the mighty roar of our radioactive friend.

Open in 1999 in Sanjica, Japan where an American family involving husband-wife nuclear physicists (Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche) and their son, Ford deal with an unbelievable tragedy that mysteriously brings down the power plant, but the media and government shields it as an earthquake. Fast forward to present day to where Joe (Cranston) believes it was much more…something monstrous. Dismissed as a loon even Lt. Ford Brody all grown up (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Savages) doesn’t believe him but Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) was witness to what his father lost and proves it accidental but jaw-dropping fashion. Hello, Muto.

Mox Borenman's screenplay nails the mythology of Godzilla correctly by setting the stage for the first hour by forcing filmgoers into anticipation to see the iconic monster but misses the mark when it comes to caring for the human element. When we see Ford striving to get home and see his family, it just comes off as wooden and mechanical as Johnson's acting was. I have seen him do a far better job (Savages comes to mind.) Looking the part but like Armie Hammer in The Lone Ranger, doesn't sound like it. His wife, Elle (played by an underused Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene) is played as eager or shaken by Ford's phone call even though he's fighting against a...dinosaur that wrecks San Francisco. I will just make this abundantly clear and move on. Where in the hell was the President?! Not one time did I hear about the White House. Off my soapbox, back to the review.

Director Gareth Edwards adds a dash of Spielberg's epic touch upon it by staying true to the source material and spectacular action especially when Alexandre Duplat's speeds up as the epic monster showdown and Godzilla's roar erupts dictating battle royale.

By the end of the film, I was already looking forward to Godzilla 2 in 2016 and Edwards is attached to direct.

Verdict: B+

Godzilla sticks to it's campy, mythical roots smashing cities left and right making Man of Steel's destruction look like child's play in it's destructive vision even if us humans are disposable. Godzilla proves he's once again...King of the Monsters.